Fantan Mojah shows off 'cheffing' skills

The Downsound Records team is more than just a group of persons who work together, they are a family.

Last Friday, THE STAR got to experience the family in all its glory when we visited their 'home' on Belmont Road, New Kingston.

Like in any normal family, Downsound Records has its members on a tight kitchen schedule. As a move to get members of his team to bond more, CEO of Downsound Records, Joe Bogdanovich, gives the team a budget and every other Friday, each member of the family has to 'throw down in the kitchen'.

This time around, it was Fantan Mojah's turn.

Before starting, he told THE STAR that he is particularly serious about his 'cheffing skills'. However, when it came down to the nitty-gritty, if the clean plates were anything to go by, it's safe to say that the singer is more than just talk.

Going all out for his turn, Fantan prepared fried fish and curried shrimp served with rice and peas, mashed potatoes, fried plantains and steamed vegetables.

When THE STAR arrived at Downsound Records, Fantan had already prepared his fish. They were washed and seasoned and ready for frying. Giving us a little lesson in the art of frying fish, the entertainer informed our team that while all fish can be fried, parrot and snapper will give the best results.

SKILLS FROM MOTHER

Informing us that he gained his culinary skills from watching his mother in the kitchen, Fantan explained that as the eldest of five children he had to learn how to cook quickly as he was often called upon to prepare meals, particularly on Sundays.

"Me always stand up and watch her (mother). She always tell me next sister weh follow me and me littler sister say, 'yuh see Fantan, him have cooking lock, him follow me, unuh can't manage him'. So true dat, all pan a Sunday, she just send me inna di kitchen say, 'Gwaan inna the kitchen', and she know she a get her rice and peas well shelly," he said.

Turning his attention to the fish, Fantan began frying. Telling the team that the oil needs to be well hot before adding the fish, Fantan continued to 'school us'. While the fish was frying, the entertainer proceeded to add his potatoes to a pot of boiling water, getting his mashed potatoes up and running.

While he did that, he had some help in preparing the 'greens' for steaming. His rice and peas was already half-done when we got there, but the artiste explained that he only uses Basmati rice.

Dicing up the tomatoes, onions, sweet peppers, carrots, scallion and thyme, Fantan told THE STAR that he would be making a special sauce. He refused to say what would be in it, dubbing it a secret.

"Me can't tell unuh bout it, unuh haffi go just taste it," he said.

The Downsound family gave Fantan 'winnings' on his meal and was particularly excited about his secret sauce. Even the boss was impressed.

"I think, like his music, Fantan's cooking has a lot of shades of spice. The mix of everything, the vegetable with the sauce makes it smooth and organic. He really knows how to cook," Bogdanovich said.